How much does air conditioning cost?
Short answer, supply and install: a single split runs $2,600 to $4,500, a multi-head $6,500 to $14,000, and whole-home ducted $11,000 to $26,000+. Commercial refrigeration starts around $9,000. The real number comes from a load calc, not a price list. Here is what moves it.
Supply and install, corridor, 2026.
| Cheap quote (oversized box, no load calc, standard coil) | $2,000 – $3,200 |
| Single split (sized, named, coastal coil, ~2.5–7kW) | $2,600 – $4,500 |
| Multi-head split (2–5 heads on one outdoor unit) | $6,500 – $14,000 |
| Whole-home ducted (zoned, controller, roof install) | $11,000 – $26,000+ |
| Commercial refrigeration (coolroom / freezer / display, by spec) | from $9,000 |
Why two quotes for the same home land thousands apart.
Capacity (the load calc)
The biggest single lever. The kW comes from a room-by-room calc, not the floor area. Oversizing short-cycles and wastes power; undersizing never keeps up. We size it once, properly.
System type
A single split, a multi-head, and a zoned ducted system are three different jobs. Ducted adds roof access, ductwork runs and a controller; multi-head adds heads and refrigerant line.
Coastal coil spec
A blue-fin or treated condenser costs more than the standard coil and lasts years longer in the salt zone. On a beachside install it is the difference between a decade and three summers.
Electrical + power
A dedicated circuit is standard. A ducted or large multi-head may need three-phase power or a switchboard upgrade, which we cost up front rather than as a surprise.
Access + pipework
Line length between indoor and outdoor units, roof or wall-cavity runs, second-storey access and tricky outdoor placement all add labour and material.
Refrigeration spec
For coolrooms and freezers: volume, the temperature band (chiller vs freezer), insulation, the condenser unit and whether it is a breakdown replacement or a new fit-out.
Estimate your install range in three taps.
An indicative band, not a quote, and never a substitute for the load calc on site.
Estimate your repaint range
A few quick inputs return an indicative supply-and-install band, and decode what a real quote for that job should itemise. Not a quote.
The cheap number usually skips a line. Ours shows all seven.
Every Saltline quote splits the same way, so the figure you compare is tied to a system and a spec you can read.
- 1 Heat-load calculation. Room by room: floor area, glazing, orientation, ceiling height and insulation. The kW comes from the calc, not a guess.
- 2 Equipment named. Exact make, model, series and capacity on the quote. “A good Japanese one” is not a model number.
- 3 Placement plan. Where the indoor and outdoor units go: airflow, noise, service access and how far from the salt.
- 4 Coastal coil spec. Salt-zone installs get a blue-fin or anti-corrosion-treated condenser. The standard coil is what rusts out in three years.
- 5 Electrical + dedicated circuit. Single-phase or three-phase, the isolator, the circuit and the switchboard check. We hold the electrical licence, so it is our line, not yours.
- 6 Pipework, drainage + penetrations. Refrigerant line length and lagging, the condensate run, and every wall penetration sealed against weather and vermin.
- 7 Commissioning + compliance. Gas charge weighed and logged, system commissioned to spec, ARC paperwork issued and the manufacturer warranty registered.
What homeowners ask about price.
How much does air conditioning cost on the Gold Coast and Tweed? +
Why is one quote thousands cheaper than another? +
Does being near the beach change the price? +
Is the estimate on this page a quote? +
Get a fixed, itemised quote, sized to your rooms.
Tell us what you need. We’ll book a walkthrough and send a quote with the work itemised, not just a number.